Strut



March 17, 1925.

E. J. LIST STRUT w e v n Filed June 16, 1924 Patented Mar. 17, 1925. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE".

EZRA 3'. LIST, OF HAVANA, ILLINOIS.

STRUT.

Application filed June 16, 1924. Serial No. 720,206.

exact description of the invention, whichwill enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same;

This invention relates to improvements instruts. More particularly itpertains to a strut for supporting propeller shafts in power boats.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a strut forsupporting the propeller-shaft in a power boat which shall haveadjustability whereby its bore for said shaft can be exactly alignedwith the latter.

A further object is to construct a strutof two main portions, one ofthem being adapted for attachment to the boat, the other portion beingconnected thereto and adjustable thereon and free to be aligned with thepropeller shaft.

Still another object is to provide a strut of two connected mainportions, one fixed and the other adjustable, and to include means forsecuring the portions relatively after adjustment.

Another object is to furnish a strut for the propeller shaft of a powerboat wherein part thereof is adjustable upon and adapted to be securedrelatively to a second fixed part and adapted to receive into it ashaft-housing assisting in securing the adjustable part in fixedposition. But this will be made clear in the appended drawing whichshows a preferred form of the invention though changes maybe madetherein. as may be considered falling within the invention and withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a propeller shaft and the strut formingthe subject of this application, as applied to a boat.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the strut on a larger scale, one of theparts having been removed to show features of construction.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the same as seen from either its front orrear.

Figure 4 illustrates in perspective a part of an adjustable portion ofthe strut, and

Figure 5 shows in perspective a portion of the strut adapted to be fixedin position upon the boat-bottom.

In Figure 1' has been illustrated a propeller shaft 1 which extends atan angle through the bottom of the boat 2, said shaft being carriedthrough a shaft-log 3 within the boat and controlled by a clutch 4 andhand-lever 5. A bearing 6 for the shaft is formed with a cylindricallycurved, plate 7 which seats and rocks in a similarly curved seat 8 ofthe shaft-logS, this construction permitting the shaft to be aligned atany desired angle, the latter, in effect, pivoting about the point fromwhich the cylindrically curved surfaces of the parts are described.tubular housing for the shaft is carried at one end in' the shaft-log inany suitable manner, not shown, the shaft 1 extending through it andreceiving the propeller. 10 at its projecting rear end.

No claim is made to the foregoing it having been described merely tomake the drawing understood together with the use of the invention nowto be described.

Securedto the bottom 2 of the boat above the shaft 1 just forward of thepropeller 10 is the strut of the present'invention. It includes a pairof depending brackets 11 (Figure 3), whose'flanges 12 are bolted to thesaid bottom 2 in any approved manner.

Saidbrackets are preferably duplioates,-one

of them being clearlyshown in Figure 5. Each is recessed as at 13permitting the flattened end 14 of an arm 15 to lie therein theassembled brackets enclosing said end 14 as shown in Figure 3. Centrallyof each bracket is a hole 16 to receive a bolt 17 and Y ing as a pivotabout which the arm may In addition, a pipe 9 forming a rock. Atdiametrically opposite sides of the holes 16 of the brackets are holes19 and registering therewith in the end 14 are slots 20. Bolts 21extending through the parts serveto clamp them firmly,'it being clearthat the arm'15'may be free to swing about the center bolt 17 within'thelimit of the slots when'said bolts 21 are loosened.

arm, as in this instance, and at that end of its bore farthest from thepropeller may be threaded to receive the threaded end of the pipe orvtube 9; The other end of the bore or that nearest the propeller mayform-a bearing for theshaft 1, or a separate bear ing, not shown, may beinserted for the same purpose if desired. I BGlOW'thG'lIU b is anextension 23 provided with holes 24 for attachment of a shoe, skeg orrudder if desired;

The work of attaching a rlgld strut to a boat is a diflicult one-and onerequiring great 7 care and considerable time since it is required, .ofcourse, that 'itsgbearing for the propeller shaft must beintperfect.alignment with said shaft so that undue wearishall notresult. This necessitates wedg-ingand shinnning such a strut verycarefully .before the securing boltsare'tightened and :eventhen thefinalresultswareanot satisfactory.

' However, I in applying, the; adjustable strut herein described it1S-Q11lY-11C8SSZIIWi toislipv the hub-22 upon-and shift it alongtheshaft,

should the latter be already inplace, until the brackets reach [a firmseating upon the ,bottom 2, the boltsa17-and21 being left "loose, ofcourse,-during this ;act. @Asinay be understood, the parts arepracticallysel-fadj Listing-and after tightening Ithebolts thatsecurethe brackets in place the bolts 17.-and 21 can be tightened and the,work is finished. If at any time the-angleof the shaft is to be changedfor {any reason the loosening of the lastnamed bolts easilyiad nitof:such change whereupon they; may be again tightened. If thestrut-isfirst attached to the boat followed I by the installation ,of' the shaftand its parts said shaft may be slipped into the hub, the latterreadilyand naturally taking up theangle-atWhi h the shaft-is setl,IThe'tube or pipea9, which is -usedto protect the-shaft, ,is screwedinto the-shaft log and this-tube elpipe, ,whenthreaded at its, rear end,can be SCIGWGdJigIltO the-hub 22 acting to brace thelstrut and serve asa holding meansin -additionto i the bolts 17 and 21.

' pellereshaft a strut spaced rearward from that part of said shaftwhereis extends through the boat-bottom and: disposed adjacent thepropeller comprisinga partsecured to the under side of the boatbetweenthe' latter and said propellenshaft and a second part pivotallyattached at one; end to the first part between the same'an'dthe shaftand including a bore at its other end to receive the said shaft, andmeans to ;-fix,the

said second part with respect; to the first in adjusted positions. v

2. In combination with a boatand its'propeler-shaft, a strut spacedrearward from that part of said shaft where it extends through theboat-bottom and disposed adjacent the propeller comprising a partextending from the under side of the boat between .the latter and saidpropeller-shaft and rigidly secured to said boat, and a second part.pivotedr-to the,first between the same and the shaft, depending fromthe said first part and having anangularlyarranged bore to receive the;said, shaft, and. means 1 extending throughthepartswadapted for fixing,the I second part in. rigid adjusted relationuafter the said bore hasbeen a-ligned .with said propeller with -respect :to the firstshaft. '80

In combinationwi-th a boat and its propeller-shaft, a .-strut :spacedrearward from that partof said: shaft .where .it extends throughtheboat-bottoin and disposed adjacent I the propeller for I. supportingthe free end of said shaft comprisinga; part depend: ing fromand securedrig-idly to; the boat between the same and the shaft,--a second partpivot-ally suspendedifrom a the *first I part, between it-andthe boatand having-a bore to receiveiinto it the said .shaft,.;a-nd ,nieansextending through the partssspa ced from thepivot.thereof-for.securingxsaidV parts in rigid relation when thepartshave been placed inpositionand the 'axis ofthe borevihas, been; aligned,withthe said.,.pro o I peller-shaft.

-4HI1'1 co nbinationwith a boat and itspropeller-shaft, a strut spacedrearward afrom that partuofsaid shaftgwhere-v it extends H through theboat-botto1n and ,disposecl;;.acl-jacentqtheepropeller fonsupporting thefree end of-ythe shaft and the propeller comprising a part dependingfrom ;and;secured rigidlyto the; boat'betweenitiand the-shaft a second,part pivotally suspended from the first part and: having a bore toreceive into it the said shaft-,v; and {means extencting through-theparts-spaced from ;the;pivot 1 thereof in: substantially, d-ia-netrically; opporsite positions for securing said parts in rigid relationwhen the parts-have been placed in positionflwi-th the axis of the borein alignment with that of the propeller-shaft.4

,II1*COl11bll1 lt-'l )n witha boat and its propeller-sha-ft, :and a,tubular housing for the .lattersecured at ,:one end in. the boat,a.strutcomprising a part depending from ,and secured rigidly to the boat, asecond part pivotally suspended from the first part ,and .haVingaf-boreto receive the shaft, through which the said shaft .is adapted to,extend, said second part also having one end of: the housing securedthereto bracing thesaine.

latter. securedat one end inthe boat' astrut comprising a partdependingfrom and secured rigidly to the boat; a second partpivota'llysuspen'dedfrom the/first part adapted 130 6. In combination with ajboat,its pro- ,peller-shaft, and a. tubularghousing fortthe to swing in asingle given plane and having a bore to receive the shaft and throughwhich the latter extends, said bore being adapted for receiving theouter end of said housing.

7. In combination with a boat, its propeller-shaft, and a tubularhousing for the latter secured at one end in the boat, and threaded atits other end, a strut comprising a part depending from and securedrigidly to the boat, a second part pivotally suspended from the firstand having a bore to receive into it the said shaft. said bore beingalso partially threaded, and adapted to receive the threaded end of saidhousing.

8. In combination with a boat, its pro peller-shaft, and a tubularhousing for the latter fir-zed at one end in the boat, a strut atfixedto the bottom of the boat and depending therefrom comprising twoportions one pivotally suspended from the other, means to secure theparts in fixed relation, the suspended portion having a bore to receivethe shaft and also having the free end of the housing aifixed thereto.

9. In combination with a boat and its propeller shaft, a strutcomprising a part depending from and secured to the bottom of the boat,being between that latter and said propeller-shaft, a second partpivotally suspended therefrom at a point between the boat and shaftadapted to swing in a single given direction and having a bore toreceive the said shaft, and means secured at one end to the boat,extending at an angle forwardly and attached at its rear end to the saidsecond part.

10. A'strut for the purpose described comprising a part made up of twocompanion members for attachment to a boat, each having a dependingportion having a clamping face, a second part havin'g a portion to liebetween the depending portions, there being an arcnate slot in saidportion of said second part, a bolt extending through said slot and thesaid depending portions of the first named part for clamping the wholetogether,

the said second part having a. bore thereinto receive a propeller-shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. EZRA J. LIST. Vitnesses ADELINE D. BERRY, OREN E. Lrs'r.

